Acrylic vs. Metal Custom Ornaments: Which to Order
bright full color or etched, weighty metal.

Published October 22, 2026. Last updated October 22, 2026.

Should I order acrylic or metal custom ornaments?

Order acrylic custom ornaments when your artwork is full color, bold and graphic, and order metal ornaments when your design is line-based and the gift needs to feel substantial. Acrylic is the color-first, shatter-safe choice. Metal is the detail-first, keepsake choice that people tend to keep on display long after the season ends.

The decision usually comes down to three questions: how many colors your logo uses, who is receiving the ornament, and how the piece should feel in the hand. A brewery handing ornaments across a merch counter has different needs from a foundation thanking its board. Get Custom Ornaments makes both styles on the same terms, so you can compare them directly: a minimum of 100, a free mockup within 24 hours, and about 2 weeks of standard turnaround after approval.

If you are still unsure, ask for a mockup in each material. Seeing your own artwork rendered in clear acrylic and in etched brass usually settles the question in a minute.

How do acrylic and metal ornaments compare side by side?

Acrylic and metal ornaments differ most in how the artwork is applied, how color behaves and how the finished piece feels. The table below compares the two styles as Get Custom Ornaments makes them.

Both styles take custom shapes, both can carry a name or year, and both ship ready to hang.

Which ornament material handles a full-color logo better?

Acrylic ornaments handle a full-color logo better than metal, because the artwork is UV-printed straight onto the acrylic in full color. Gradients, photos, mascots with shading and brand palettes with many colors all reproduce on acrylic. A white underbase sits behind the areas you want solid, and bare acrylic stays clear wherever you want the tree lights to shine through.

Metal ornaments carry color differently. The design is etched into the metal, and the recessed channels can be flooded with a few solid enamel colors or left bare so the brass, bronze or steel itself reads as the artwork. That approach looks rich on a two-color crest, but it is the wrong fit for a photograph or a logo built on gradients.

• Many colors or gradients: choose acrylic.
• One or two flat colors: either works; metal adds weight and shine.
• Fine linework or small type: metal etching holds it cleanly.

Get Custom Ornaments rebuilds your artwork free for either method, so a flat JPG is enough to start.

Are metal ornaments worth choosing over acrylic for a gift?

Metal ornaments are worth choosing over acrylic when the ornament is a recognition gift rather than a giveaway. A metal ornament has real weight in the hand, will not fade, warp or absorb moisture, and looks the same at its tenth hanging as it did on the day it was given. That permanence is why boards, donors, retiring staff and long-serving employees so often receive metal.

Acrylic is the stronger gift when the recipient group is large, the design is colorful and the goal is brand visibility on the tree. Clients, customers, event guests and team members tend to respond well to a bright acrylic ornament that matches the brand they already know.

A practical split many buyers use:

• Metal for the board, top donors or a milestone anniversary group.
• Acrylic for clients, customers, staff and event attendees.
• The same artwork adapted to both, so the program still looks unified.

Get Custom Ornaments can quote both runs together, and a rigid gift box with a printed card is available for the metal pieces that need extra presence.

Which is more durable around kids, crowds and shipping?

Acrylic ornaments are the safer pick around kids and crowds, while metal ornaments are the more permanent pick for decades of storage. Acrylic will not shatter when it falls from a branch onto a hardwood or concrete floor, which is why families with small children, schools and busy venues ask for it by name. The polished edges have no sharp break points.

Metal is effectively unbreakable in normal use, and the etched design sits below the surface, so it does not rub off with handling. The tradeoff is weight: metal ornaments are heavier on a branch and in a mailer, which matters if you are shipping individually to remote employees or donors.

Both styles travel well when packed properly. Get Custom Ornaments ships each acrylic ornament in a polybag or gift box with its cord fitted, and each metal ornament in a protective sleeve with a ball chain or ribbon attached. If you plan to split one order across several addresses, mention it on the quote request so packaging is planned before production.

What drives the cost difference between acrylic and metal ornaments?

The cost of acrylic and metal custom ornaments is driven by material, decoration method, shape complexity, quantity and packaging rather than a fixed price list. Get Custom Ornaments quotes every order individually, so the fastest way to compare is to request a quote on both materials with the same artwork and quantity.

1. Material: sheet metal and cast acrylic are priced differently, and specialty finishes such as mirrored acrylic or antique bronze change the quote.
2. Decoration: full-color printing on both sides, added engraving on acrylic, or multiple enamel fill colors on metal all affect cost.
3. Shape: a simple round or rectangle costs less to cut than an intricate custom outline with cut-outs.
4. Quantity: larger runs spread setup across more pieces.
5. Packaging: polybags, gift boxes and printed cards each add a line.

There is no charge for the mockup, revisions are unlimited, and you pay nothing until you approve the design, so comparing both materials costs you nothing but a few minutes.

How do I order acrylic or metal ornaments from Get Custom Ornaments?

Ordering acrylic or metal ornaments from Get Custom Ornaments starts with a short quote request that lists your artwork, quantity, preferred material and delivery date. If you have not decided between the two, say so and ask for a mockup in both.

1. Send your logo or artwork, even a rough file, through the custom quote form.
2. Receive a free mockup within 24 hours showing your design in acrylic, metal or both.
3. Request unlimited free revisions until color, detail and wording are right.
4. Approve the proof, then expect about 2 weeks of standard turnaround, with express shipping when your date is close.

The minimum is 100 ornaments per order, which makes it easy to run a small test batch in one material before committing a larger holiday run. For more detail on each material, see the acrylic ornaments and metal ornaments pages, or read how it works.

The verdict: acrylic or metal?

Pick acrylic custom ornaments for full-color logos, bright brand graphics, large recipient lists and anywhere ornaments might be dropped. Pick metal ornaments for crests, seals and fine linework, for recognition gifts that need weight, and for milestone pieces meant to last for decades. When the audience is mixed, run both: metal for the few who earned something special, acrylic for everyone else, using the same artwork adapted to each method. Get Custom Ornaments will mock up either one, or both, within 24 hours.